ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF ECCLESIASTICAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONCERN

New York, NY - His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon has convened a meeting of representative national leaders to discuss several issues of ecclesiastical, national and international concern for all Orthodox Christians and Hellenes. The meeting of Hellenic American Leaders and Organizations (HALO) will be held on Tuesday, March 10 in Washington, DC.

As spiritual leader of l.5 million Greek Orthodox, His Eminence will challenge the participants to unite to effectively address issues of national concern including the perpetuation of religious education, Greek language and Hellenic culture for our young people, particularly those of high school and college age. Further, that they also support the Greek Orthodox Church and its contribution to the world and Hellenism, as visibly demonstrated by the recent visit of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

His Eminence hopes to foster a deeper discussion of religious freedom and human rights, particularly as they pertain to the freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the control of ecclesiastical property and opening of the theological school of Halki in Turkey. Also, the support of Orthodox Churches persecuted under communism and all Orthodox Patriarchates worldwide is of abiding concern.

Finally, at this critical moment in history, Archbishop Spyridon will urge a renewed commitment to the crucial international concerns of the rule of law and human rights in Cyprus and Turkey.

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